Poll: Opposition exceeds support for East River toll plan

More New York City voters oppose than support a plan to toll the now-free East River bridges to Manhattan while reducing the tolls on bridges linking only the outer boroughs and using part of the net gain in revenue for mass transit, according to a poll released Thursday.

A Quinnipiac University survey found 49 percent of voters are against the proposal being revived by transit advocates and 44 percent are for it. Even more -- 69 percent -- oppose setting tolls on the four East River bridges without easing the burden on drivers traveling between the Bronx, Queens, Brooklyn and Staten Island.

Poll assistant director Maurice Carroll said New Yorkers have been saying no to East River bridge tolls for years.

"But the people pushing the idea this time are savvy," he said. "They'd marry new tolls to toll reductions elsewhere."

The plan is intended to reduce traffic congestion and is proposed by the Move NY coalition, which includes former city traffic commissioner Sam Schwartz and transport workers unions. The group contends its overall proposal would generate $1.5 billion a year for roads, bridges and transit.